The heading of this article looks like code language, but there is not a word of French. The Chinese manufacturer BAIC is giving its BJ20 a facelift. From now on it will be known as BJ30.
The BJ20 is a crossover marketed by the Chinese manufacturer BAIC in 2016 (photos 12 to 14). With its length of 4.45 meters, the fairly angular model is comparable in size to the Volkswagen Tiguan. The BJ20 has now been on the Chinese market for several years, which means that it is time for a facelift.
BAIC BJ20 (pre-facelift BJ30)
The BJ20 will go through life as a BJ30 after its end session. Why that name change? BAIC saves even numbers from now on for its really rough off-roaders. Front-wheel drive crossovers like the BJ30 now called BJ20 are given the model names with odd numbers. BAIC gives the BJ30 a completely new front and rear. The nose loses its characteristic design with round headlamps accompanied by a thin strip of LED daytime running lights above. The facelift gives the SUV a more angular, but also slightly more interchangeable muzzle. The lighting at the rear is also being changed. The light clusters are more vertically oriented but keep their spur that goes around the corner of the body. The license plate moves up and is now housed in the tailgate. A striking feature is the black plastic spur that is placed in the very wide and angular C-pillar. At the bottom of the BAIC bottom is of course also a new rear bumper. BAIC jumps around the wheel arches, at the side skirts and on the doors just a little more economical with black plastic.
(pre-facelift BJ30)
The engine is not tinkered with, which means that the BJ30, just like the BJ20, has a 1.5 turbo engine from Mitsubishi under the hood that delivers 150 hp and 210 Nm. That machine is an old acquaintance to us, Mitsubishi supplied it here in the Colt CZC 1.5 Turbo, CZ5 and CZ3 1.5 Ralliart. The Smart ForFour Brabus contained a version of the same power source that was increased to 177 hp. Is the BJ30 coming to the Netherlands? Asking the question is answering it. The starting price of the BJ30 in China is around € 13,600.